Bottle-holder for cork-pullers and other machinery.



, B. WALKER. BOTTLE HOLDER FOR com: PULLERS AND OTHER MACHINERY.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 16, 1907.

Patented July 19, 1910.

wlmtssfs Q75 6? W ff EDWIN WALKER, OF ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA.

BOTTLE-HOLDER FOR- CORK-PULLERS AND OTHER MACHINERY.

senses.

Original application filed February 20, 1907, Serial No. 358,470.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 19, 1910.

Divided and this application filed April 16, 1907. Serial No. 368,532.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN WALKER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Erie, in the county of Erie and State of Pennsylvania, haveinvented a certain new and useful Bottle-Holder for Cork-Pullers andother Machinery, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is a holder or clamp for bottles, and other containers,the same being adapted for use in connection with cork pullers, bottlecorking machines, and other apparatus.

The invention of this application is a division of a prior applicationfiled by me on February 20, 1907, Serial No. 358,470 for an inventionentitled Automatic cork pullers.

The object of my invention, when used in connection with a cork pullerof the type disclosed in the prior application, is to hold a bottle orcontainer securely in position during the operations of thrusting anextracting screw into a cork and of pulling the cork from saidcontainer, said bottle holding means being actuated positively duringboth the opening and closing movements of its jaws or members.

In the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated one practicalembodiment of the invention, but the construction shown therein is to beunderstood as illustrative only, and not as defining the limits of theinvention.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my new bottle holder or clamp adapted tobe used in connection with a cork puller. Fig. 2 is a front elevationthereof. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line 33 of Fig. 1 showingthe bottle holder or clamp in plan view. Fig. 4 is another horizontalsection on the line 4- 1 of Fig. 1.

In Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings I have shown the bottle holder or clampin connection with a table, A, or other supporting device, and with abed plate, B, of a cork pulling machine, but it is to be understood thatthe bottle holder or clamp may be used in connection with any type ofmachine wherein it is desired to retain a bottle, or similar container,in a fixed position during the performance of certain operations. Myholder or clamp embodies means for positively and mechanically openingand closing the jaws from a single operating member.

As shown, the holder or clamp is adapted to be carried by a bracket,hanger or other suitable supporting means, indicated at C, the latterbeing provided with a fixed bearing or sleeve, 0, in which is mounted asingle operating shaft, D. The holder or clamp consists of companionjaws, each of which is provided with a lining, e, of rubber or othersuitable material, adapted to frictionally engage with the side portionof the bottle neck. Said jaws are shown in Figs. 3 and 4 as hav inginwardly extending lugs, 7, which are pivotally supported by suitablepins or screws, f, within the bracket or hanger, G, whereby said jaws,E, E, are pivotally mounted for movement toward and from each other.

The jaws are provided with longitudinal slots, 9, through which passesthe operating shaft, D, said shaft having the bent portion, d, which isprovided with an operating handle, CF. The shaft is supported in thebearing, 0, located between the cooperating jaws, E, E, said shaftpassing loosely through the slots of the jaws, whereby the shaft may berotated in its bearing, 0, by operating the handle, (P.

The jaws are provided on their inner opposing faces, and at points overthe shaft, D, with cam surfaces, A, shown in full lines in Fig. 3 and indotted lines in Fig. 4:. The shaft, D, is provided with cam studs, 2',herein shown in the form of screws which are fastened to said shaft onopposite sides of the bearing, 0, said cam studs being arranged toengage with the cam surfaces, /1.-, for the purpose of pressing thejaws, E, E, away from each other simultaneously and positively when theshaft, D, is turned in one direction.

The cam studs, 7:, are secured to the shaft, D, in correspondingpositions and within the jaws, E, E, for the purpose of positivelyopening said jaws, thereby dispensing with a spring or springs foropening the jaws. The shaft, D, is provided, furthermore, with other camstuds or rollers, j, the same being secured to the shaft incorresponding positions and extending radially therefrom, the cam studsor rollers, j, extending from the shaft in a different direction fromthe cam studs, i, first described. Said studs or rollers, j, are locatedexternally to the jaws, E, E, and they are adapted to engage with thecxternal surfaces of said jaws, for the purpose of simultaneouslypressing said jaws inward toward each other when the shaft, D, is turnedin one direction, whereby the studs or rollers, j, are adapted to closethe jaws tightly upon an interposed bottle neck, adapted to be thrustbetween the frictional surfaces, 6, of said jaws.

The handle, (P, of the operating shaft, D, normally hangs in asubstantially vertical position as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, thusmaintaining the shaft, D, in a position for the cam studs, 2', to pressthe jaws, E, E, away from each other, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4:,thereby holding the bottle holder or clamp in an open or spread positionand enabling the operator to place a bottle in position easily andquickly. In order to clamp the bottle firmly in place, the operatorsimple turns the handle, (Z in an up ward direction so as to rotate theshaft, D, whereupon the cam studs, 2', are moved toward the low parts ofthe cam surfaces, it, and simultaneously with this movement, the othercam studs or rollers, j, are brought into engagement with said jaws forthe purpose of closing them quickly upon the inserted bottle neck. It isevident that the jaws, E, E, will hold a bottle immovably in positionduring the operations of insert ing an extractor screw into the cork andof withdrawing said cork from the bottle. When it is desired to releasethe clamp and remove the bottle from the holder, it is only necessaryfor the operator to drop the handle, (Z whereby the shaft, D, is rotatedby the gravity of the handle. Said shaft is rotated in a direction forthe cam studs, 2', to ride upon the cam surfaces, It, and therebyseparate the jaws, E, E, by moving them simultaneously away from thebottle, thus quickly releasing the latter.

In my device the operating shaft, D, is held or confined against endwisemovement within its bearing, 0, by the cam lugs, i, 2', engaging withthe respective ends of the bearing. Furthermore, the cam lugs, 2', 2',are arranged equidistant from a center line between the jaws or members,E, E, for the purpose of imparting equal throw or move ment to the twojaws or members. Similarly, the cam studs or rollers, y, j, areequidistantly arranged on the shaft, D, relative to the center linebetween said aws, whereby the studs or rollers, j, j, are adapted toimpart equal and simultaneous movement to the jaws or members for thepurpose of making them act equally in gripping and holding the bottle.

Having thus fully described the invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the class described, movable clamping jaws, a shaft,means engaging the inner faces of the aws and operated by the movementof the shaft in one direction for opening said jaws, and separate meansengaging the outer faces of the jaws and operated by the movement of theshaft in an opposite direction for closing said jaws.

2. In a device of the class described, movable clamping jaws, a singlerock shaft provided with means for positively opening said jaws whensaid shaft is rocked in one direction, said shaft beingprovided withseparate means for positively closing said jaws when the shaft is rockedin an opposite direction.

3. In a device of the class described, movable-clamping jaws provided ontheir inner sides with cam projections which extend inwardly toward acentral line between the jaws, a shaft, and projections actuated by theshaft and arranged within said jaws, said projections engaging directlywith the cam surfaces of the jaws for positively opening' the latterwhen the shaft is rocked in one direction.

4. In a device of the class described, movable-clamping jaws providedwith cam surfaces on their inner surfaces, a shaft extending throughsaid jaws, projections movable with the shaft and engaging the inner camsurfaces of said jaws for opening the same on turning the shaft in onedirection, and other projections carried by the shaft and engaging withthe outer surfaces of said jaws for closing them on turning the shaft inanother direction.

5. In a device of the class described, movable jaws the inner orgripping faces of which are provided with cam surfaces,means cooperatingwith said shaft and the cam surfaces for opening said jaws, and separatemeans cooperating with said shaft and the outer faces of said jaws forclosing the jaws.

6. In a device of the class described,'pivoted jaws, a rock shaftpassing loosely through the jaws, means on said shaft adapted to engagewith the jaws, an arm on the shaft for rocking it and adapted by itsgravity to cooperate with said engaging means to open said aws, andseparate means cooperating with the shaft for closing the aws.

7. In a device of the class described, hinged jaws, a fixed bearingbetween said jaws, a shaft mounted in said bearing and extending looselythrough the jaws, means carried by the shaft within the jaws andcooperating directly therewith for opening said jaws positively, andadditional means also carried by the shaft and riding on the outer facesthereof for closing said jaws, whereby a single shaft operates the jawspositively for opening and closing them.

8. In a device of the class described, movable jaws, a rock shaft, meanspositioned between said jaws and operated by movement of the rock shaftin one direction for opening said jaws, and separate means positionedoutside of said aws and operated by the movement of the rock shaft in anopposite direction for closing said jaws relative to each other.

9. In a device of the class described, movable jaws provided with slots,a rock shaft extending through said slots, operating means movable withsaid shaft and positioned between the jaws for spreading the latter onthe movement of the shaft in one direction, and separate operating meansmovable with the shaft and adapted to act on the aws to close them whensaid shaft is turned in an opposite direction.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDWIN WALKER.

Witnesses:

JAs. H. GRIFFIN, H. I. BERNHARD.

